Why don鈥檛 dogs look up when a low-flying plane or helicopter passes overhead? I鈥檝e never seen one do this. (continued)
Dyane Silvester
Arnside, Cumbria, UK
As a former dog owner, and now regular dog-sitter, my theory is that, because dogs don鈥檛 climb and, as a species, have no aerial predators, they tend not to have much concept of 鈥渦p鈥� (except where it鈥檚 upward- sloping ground).
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If you drop something from a height, most dogs will look for it on the floor rather than realise that there was a table between the object and the floor.
I did, however, have one Alsatian who, if I appeared at an upstairs window when she was in the garden, could immediately locate and arrive at the room I was in, despite having never been able to see out of any upstairs windows in our house. She also noticed and watched birds and low-flying aircraft.
I did manage to stump her once: by climbing out of the skylight and appearing on the roof. She never worked that one out!
David Lewis
London, UK
Although unusual, a friend鈥檚 late spaniel would look at aircraft flying above her in the park. She would then bark and chase them. Fortunately, she never caught one!
C. H. Johnson
Colyton, Devon, UK
Because they know planes and helicopters don鈥檛 bring their food or any doggy treats.
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